Since negotiations have stalled, Vita Vea has requested a trade.
Vea has a pierced nose and may not be on your average fan’s bingo card, but he is among the top defensive linemen in the NFL. His presence alone has slowed down runs, and the attention he gets from the offensive line opens up the rest of the show.
It should be obvious: Literally all 32 teams could use a player of Vea’s caliber. The question is at 31, how many years of dominance does he have left and how steep is the descent? It’s a fair question when you’re paying a player top money on the market. That’s probably why the Bucs haven’t met their asking price. Vea is seeking a raise on the $18 million he’s set to earn in the final year of his contract, well below the top of the market in 2026 (Jeffery Simmons at $35.1 million).
While the other 31 GMs should at least check the price it would take to acquire a two-time Pro Bowler (how he has only two Pro Bowlers and zero All-Pros is beyond me), some fits are better than others.
Below are the eight most likely destinations for Vea in 2026: